NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. After a client has a spontaneous abortion at 12 weeks' gestation, the nurse notes that both she and her partner are visibly upset and crying. Which statement would be a therapeutic response?
- A. 'I'll be here if you want to talk.''
- B. 'Try to relax"?it'll speed up the healing process.''
- C. 'With any luck, you'll get pregnant again soon.''
- D. 'It's best that this happened early rather than having the baby die after it was born.''
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A therapeutic response in this situation is to offer support and empathy. Saying, 'I'll be here if you want to talk' gives the client and her partner the opportunity to express their emotions and seek comfort. It acknowledges their distress and assures them of the nurse's availability. Choice B, advising to relax to speed up the healing process, dismisses their current emotions and may hinder open communication. Choice C, suggesting getting pregnant again soon, minimizes their grief over the loss and may not be what the couple needs to hear at that moment. Choice D, stating it's best that the miscarriage happened early, is insensitive as it invalidates the couple's feelings of loss and grief. Grieving is a natural process, and the timing of the loss does not diminish its significance.
2. A 28-year-old woman is recovering from her third consecutive spontaneous abortion in 2 years. Which is the most therapeutic nursing intervention for this client at her follow-up appointment?
- A. Focusing on the client's physical needs
- B. Encouraging the client to verbalize her feelings about the loss
- C. Reminding the client that she will be able to become pregnant again
- D. Encouraging the client to think of herself, her husband, and their future
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most therapeutic nursing intervention for a client recovering from multiple spontaneous abortions is to encourage the client to verbalize her feelings about the loss. This allows the client to express and process her emotions, facilitating the grieving process and emotional healing. Focusing solely on the client's physical needs, as in choice A, overlooks the importance of addressing the emotional aspect of the client's experience. Choice C, reminding the client that she will be able to become pregnant again, fails to acknowledge the current loss and may minimize the client's feelings of grief. Choice D, encouraging the client to think of herself, her husband, and their future, does not directly address the client's immediate emotional needs related to the recent loss. Therefore, choice B is the most appropriate intervention to support the client in coping with her emotional distress.
3. Which psychosocial attribute plays an important role in the development of a healthy personality from birth to 1 year of age?
- A. Initiative versus guilt
- B. Trust versus mistrust
- C. Autonomy versus shame
- D. Industry versus inferiority
Correct answer: B
Rationale: According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the first attribute that helps develop a healthy personality after birth is trust. Mistrust develops if the care provided to the infant is inconsistent. Initiative versus guilt is observed at 3 to 6 years of age, when children explore their surroundings and may experience guilt if their actions conflict with parental expectations. Autonomy versus shame occurs between 1 and 3 years of age, as children develop motor skills and new activities, with shame emerging if they feel self-conscious. Industry versus inferiority is evident in children aged 6 to 12 years, where successful task completion fosters a sense of industry, while excessive expectations can lead to feelings of inferiority. Therefore, the correct attribute for a healthy personality development from birth to 1 year of age is trust versus mistrust.
4. Before assessing a new patient, a nurse is told by another healthcare worker, "I know that patient. No matter how hard we work, there isn't much improvement by the time of discharge."? The nurse's responsibility is to:
- A. document the other worker's assessment of the patient.
- B. assess the patient based on data collected from all sources.
- C. validate the worker's impression by contacting the patient's significant other.
- D. discuss the worker's impression with the patient during the assessment interview
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient based on data collected from all sources. It is important for the nurse to gather information from various sources to form an objective assessment. Biased assessments by others should be evaluated as objectively as possible by the nurse, considering the potential impact of counter-transference. Documenting the other worker's assessment (Choice A) may be necessary for thorough documentation but should not influence the nurse's independent assessment. Validating the worker's impression by contacting the patient's significant other (Choice C) may not provide an accurate representation of the patient's condition. Discussing the worker's impression with the patient during the assessment interview (Choice D) can introduce bias and may not lead to an objective evaluation.
5. A 9-year-old boy is told that he must stay in the hospital for at least 2 weeks. The nurse finds him crying and unwilling to talk. What is the priority nursing care at this time?
- A. Assuring him that his illness is not permanent
- B. Distracting him to prevent further embarrassment
- C. Arranging for him to receive tutoring immediately
- D. Providing privacy to allow him to express his feelings
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The priority nursing care for a 9-year-old child who is crying and unwilling to talk in the hospital is to provide privacy to allow him to express his feelings. Children need an opportunity to express their emotions in private, and talking about their feelings can be therapeutic. Assurances about the illness not being permanent may not be the child's primary concern at this moment. Distracting the child could give the impression that crying is wrong. Arranging tutoring does not address the immediate emotional needs of the child.
Similar Questions
Access More Features
NCLEX RN Basic
$69.99/ 30 days
- 5,000 Questions with answers
- Comprehensive NCLEX coverage
- 30 days access
NCLEX RN Premium
$149.99/ 90 days
- 5,000 Questions with answers
- Comprehensive NCLEX coverage
- 30 days access